Sliding and hinging racking and storage system

ABSTRACT

A sliding and hinging racking and storage system comprising a frame attached to a base; bottom racks slideably received onto the frame such that the racks are slideable upwardly and downwardly along the frame in a vertical direction; top racks slideably received onto the frame such that the racks are slideable upwardly and downwardly along the frame in a vertical direction; and center racks hingeably received onto the frame such that the center racks can pivot between a closed position and an open position. When the center racks are in the open position, the top racks are moveable to a top rack center position and the bottom racks are moveable to a bottom rack center position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present concept relates generally to racking and storage systems and, more particularly, relates to vertically optimized sliding and hinging racking and storage systems which are ergonomically friendly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Transportation and storage of goods has always been an issue, particularly with regard to loading and unloading of the goods in storage and racking systems. Historically, the storage systems that are used for transportation of goods may be entirely different than the storage and racking systems that are used within a factory or a shop floor on, for example, an assembly line. This necessitates the transfer of the parts or the goods that are being shipped, usually in bulk form, to the racking and storage systems that are used on the assembly lines

More recently, combined storage and racking systems have been utilized which act both as storage containers for shipping purposes and also as racking systems for use on assembly lines and on the shop floor. The advantage of using a combined shipping storage and racking system is that the transfer and the handling of component parts and or goods is minimized.

There have now been further refinements in storage and racking systems, in that there are requirements for ergonomic friendliness of these systems. The ergonomics takes into consideration that the average human has a limited vertical and horizontal range over which he is able to select and pick parts. In particular, vertical working limits have become of greater concern. For example, there is an upper limit to which a person can reach upwardly to select a part and pick it off a rack. There is also a preferred lower limit to which a person can bend and reach downwards and pick a part up off a rack and yet retain ergonomic friendliness for the user. For example, an average standing bench top height is normally 0.9 meters and the average eye level is approximately 1.57 meters. In general, the zone of comfortable reaching for a person standing is usually between 0.75 meters and 1.60 meters. Therefore anything in racking below 0.75 meters or above 1.60 is ergonomically not easily reachable and not in the optimal ergonomic vertical work zone. In imperial figures, the optimal ergonomic vertical work zone is roughly 24 inches from the floor to the maximum of 72 inches from the floor. For a person in a wheelchair, who is sitting down, the optimal ergonomic vertical work zone is often defined as 15 inches from the floor to a maximum of 48 inches from the floor.

Therefore, there is a need for a storage and racking system which uses the optimal ergonomic vertical work zone, which for standing persons is generally between 24 inches and 72 inches from the floor, but yet is able to store and transport goods and or parts at higher and lower vertical spaces which can then be moved or translated to the optimal ergonomic vertical work zone.

It is an object of the present invention to be able to have a vertical racking and storage system which stores parts or components all the way down to floor level and vertically beyond the maximum optimal ergonomic vertical work zone of 72 inches. It is also an object of the present invention to be able to bring these parts, through a mechanism, into the optimal ergonomic vertical work zone, thereby utilizing larger amount of vertical space for parts without becoming ergonomically uncomfortable.

SUMMARY

The present concept is a sliding and hinging racking and storage system which includes;

-   -   a) a frame attached to a base;     -   b) bottom racks slideably received onto the frame such that the         racks are slideable upwardly and downwardly along the frame in a         vertical direction;     -   c) top racks slideably received onto the frame such that the         racks are slide-able upwardly and downwardly along the frame in         a vertical direction;     -   d) center racks hingeably received onto the frame such that the         center racks can pivot between a closed position and an open         position;     -   e) such that when the center racks are in the open position, the         top racks are moveable to a top rack center position and the         bottom racks are moveable to a bottom rack center position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front top perspective view of the present concept of a sliding and hinging racking and storage system with center racks in a closed position.

FIG. 2 is a front top perspective view of the frame and the base of the sliding and hinging racking and storage system shown in FIG. 1 in isolation.

FIG. 3 is a front top perspective view of the sliding hinging racking and storage system shown in FIG. 1 with the center racks in an open position.

FIG. 4 is a front top perspective view of the sliding and hinging racking and storage system shown in FIG. 1 with the center racks in the open position and the bottom racks in a center position.

FIG. 5 is a front top perspective view of the sliding and hinging racking and storage system of FIG. 1 with the center racks in the open position and the top racks in the center position.

FIG. 6 is an exploded, front top perspective view of the components of the sliding and hinging racking and storage system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a front top perspective view of the top rack of FIG. 1 in isolation.

FIG. 8 is a front top perspective view of the front right center rack of FIG. 1 in isolation.

FIG. 9 is a front top perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a frame and base of the sliding and hinging racking and storage system which can be used according to the present concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, the present concept is a sliding and hinging racking and storage system shown indicated generally with reference character 100. It includes the following major components, namely, a frame 102 which is rigidly connected to a base 104 and has mounted, thereon, bottom racks, top racks, and centre racks. The bottom racks may further include front bottom racks 106, and rear bottom racks 118. The centre racks may further include front center racks 108, and rear center racks 120. The top racks may further include front top racks 110 and rear top racks 122.

Each centre rack may still further include right centre racks and left centre racks. Still referring to FIG. 1, for example, the reader will note that the front center racks 108 include front right center racks 111 and front left center racks 109, which are hingeably mounted to frame 102.

In similar fashion, rear center racks 120 would also include rear right center racks and rear left center racks which are also hingeably mounted to frame 102.

Front top racks 110 are shown in top rack top position 134, front center racks 108 are shown in center rack closed position 130 and front bottom racks 106 are shown in bottom rack bottom position 132.

Sliding and hinging racking and storage system 100 includes a front side 113 and a rear side 115 as shown in FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown in isolation frame 102 attached to base 104. Frame 102 includes the following major components, namely, right or first upright 156, left or second upright 157, right front hinge 150, left front hinge 152, left rear hinge 154, and right rear hinge not visible on the drawings. Right and left uprights 156 and 157 as shown each have an inner edge facing one another and an opposed outer edge.

In addition, vertical direction 116 is depicted by arrows and horizontal direction 176 is also depicted with arrows.

Right and left uprights 156 and 157 further, respectively, include a right groove and a left groove. The right groove may be broken down into a right front groove 158 and a right rear groove 160. The left groove may be broken down into a left front groove 162 and a left rear groove 164. The right and left grooves are positioned proximate the inner edge of their corresponding upright.

The reader will also note that base 104 includes a base front side 112 and a base rear side 114, and the entire structure defines a gap 174 which runs vertically all the way from the base 104 up to a top edge of the left and right uprights 156 and 157. Gap 174 is optional, however, it is used in circumstances where counterweights or other measures are needed to be used in association with the sliding racks, namely front top racks 110 and rear top racks 122 and/or front bottom racks 106 and rear bottom racks 118, which slide along right upright 156 and left upright 157 using a tongue and groove style mechanism for holding the racks in position.

The reader will note that hinges 150, 152 and 154 are attached to front center racks 108 as well as rear center racks 120 such that the center racks can be moved between a closed position 199, shown in FIG. 1, and an open position 136 shown in FIG. 3. Specifically as shown, hinges 150, 152 and 154 are secured proximate the outer edge of its corresponding left upright or right upright. When front center racks 108 are in the open position 136, as shown in FIG. 3, it allows the front top racks 110 or the front bottom racks 106 to slide either downwardly or upwardly, respectively, into the front center rack position. FIG. 4 shows just such an arrangement where the front bottom racks have been slid upwardly along the right and left uprights 156 and 157 into a bottom rack center position 138, wherein the center racks are shown in the open position 136.

Another variation is shown in FIG. 5 in which the front top racks 110 are slid downwardly along the right and left uprights 156 and 157 and placed into a top rack center position 140, wherein the front center racks 108 are in the open position 136.

In this manner, the reader will note that the bottoms racks 106, the center racks 108, and the top racks 110 can all be placed into the center position, which for the front center racks 108 is closed position 199, or in the open position 136. For the front top racks 110, this would be in the top center position 140, and for the bottom racks 106, this would be in the bottom rack center position 138.

In other words, any of the bottom, center or top racks can be placed into a center position such that the components and/or the materials stored in these racks can be accessed from a center position either configurations 199, 138, or 140 as shown in FIGS. 1, FIGS. 4 or FIGS. 5.

This allows the user to store components in vertically higher or lower regions, which may be outside of the optimum ergonomic region, and yet allow the components to be easily brought into the optimal ergonomic vertical work zone.

FIG. 6 shows the sliding and hinging racking and storage system in exploded fashion wherein the sliding arrangements of the front top racks 110 and the front bottom racks 106 are shown. The hinging arrangements of the front right center rack 111 and the front left center rack 109 are also shown. The reader will note that looking at FIG. 7 that front top rack 110 has a back face from which coupling members extend. The coupling members shown are tongues 170 and 171 used to engage with the grooves with the uprights, namely, right front grooves 158, right rear grooves 160, left front groove 162, or left rear groove 164. In the case of front top rack 110 shown in FIG. 7, tongue 170 would slidably engage with front right groove 158 and tongue 171 would slidably engage with left front groove 162 of right upright of 156 and left upright of 157, respectively.

FIG. 8 shows a front left center rack 109 in isolation with hinge 152 attached. FIG. 9 shows an alternate frame 202 configuration which includes right uprights 156 and 159, left uprights 157 and 161 and base 204 all of which may be constructed of lighter materials than the one depicted in FIG. 2. Frame 202 may also include different grooves and lighter weight components to reduce the overall weight and complexity of the unit.

The reader will note that upon opening front center racks 108, for example from the closed position 199 to the open position 136, the top racks 110 and the bottom racks 106 may simultaneously move toward the center. Namely, top racks 110 may move toward top rack center position 140. At the same time, bottom racks 106 may move toward bottom rack center position 138 until they make contact with one other. A series of gears and pulleys may be used to effect the movement described above.

Top racks 110 may be a different size in terms of length, width or height than bottom racks 106 and center racks 108. For example, top racks 110 may be 32″ high, center racks 108 may be 48″ high and bottom racks 106 may be 16″ high such that when top and bottom racks 110 and 106 come together upon opening of center racks 108, the combined top and bottom racks create a 48″ high rack.

Counter weights may be used to aid in the sliding of the racks along the grooves. The racks themselves may, in fact, act as the counter weights. It will be apparent to the reader that various different combinations of sliding and hinging racks could be utilized. For example, it may be possible for both of the center and bottom racks to hinge and slide, such that two sets of top racks may be slid downwardly into the optimal ergonomic vertical work zone. This would require that the bottom racks would be able to hinge and slide which is possible by making the hinges slidable and pivotable. 

I claim:
 1. A sliding and hinging racking and storage system which comprises: a) a frame attached to a base; b) bottom racks slideably received onto the frame such that the racks are slideable upwardly and downwardly along the frame in a vertical direction; c) top racks slideably received onto the frame such that the racks are slideable upwardly and downwardly along the frame in a vertical direction; and d) center racks hingeably received onto the frame such that the center racks can pivot between a closed position and an open position; such that when the center racks are in the open position, the top racks are moveable to a top rack center position and the bottom racks are moveable to a bottom rack center position.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein, when the center racks are in the closed position, the bottom racks are positioned adjacent the base below the centre racks at a bottom rack bottom position and the top racks are positioned above the centre racks at a top rack top position.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein, when the center racks are in the open position, the top racks are moveable between the top rack top position and the top rack center position and the bottom racks are simultaneously moveable between the bottom rack bottom position and the bottom rack center position.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the frame has a top edge opposite the base and a right groove running from the base to the top edge.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the top racks and the bottom racks each have: a back face, and a first coupling member extending from each back face, each first coupling member configured to slidably engage with the right groove of the frame.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the frame has a left groove running parallel to the right groove from the base to the top edge of the frame.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the top racks and the bottom racks each have a second coupling member extending from the corresponding back face, each second coupling member configured to slidably engage with the left groove of the frame.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the first and second coupling members are tongues.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the frame further comprises a right or first upright and a left or second upright, each first and second upright: extending from the base to the top edge, and having an inner edge facing one another, and an opposed outer edge.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the left groove and the right groove are positioned proximate the inner edge of the corresponding first and second upright.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the centre racks are hingedly coupled proximate the outer edge of the left upright or the right upright.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the centre racks include right centre racks and left centre racks.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the right centre racks are hingedly coupled proximate the outer edge of the first upright, and the left centre racks are hingedly coupled proximate the outer edge of the second upright.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the frame further includes an internal gap between the first upright, the second upright, the base and the top edge.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the top racks have a length, width or height that is different from a corresponding length, width or height of the bottom racks.
 16. A sliding and hinging racking and storage system which comprises: a) a frame attached to a base, the frame having a top edge opposite the base and a groove running from the base to the top edge; b) bottom racks slideably coupled with the groove such that the racks are slideable upwardly and downwardly along the frame in a vertical direction; c) top racks slideably coupled with the groove such that the racks are slideable upwardly and downwardly along the frame in a vertical direction; and d) center racks hingeably received onto the frame such that the center racks can pivot between a closed position and an open position; such that when the center racks are in the open position, the top racks are moveable to a top rack center position and the bottom racks are moveable to a bottom rack center position. 